This was my second hat for Millinery class. I wanted to do something for my mother's birthday, since she swears that she loves hats (in spite of the fact that no one has ever seen her wear one outside of her garden). My mother is a fanatical gardener, so I thought that making her a giant flower was appropriate. The base of the hat is formed buckram, covered in green crepe. The center of the flower is free-pleated velveteen that was dyed for this hat. The petals are all made from single layers of hand painted silk, cut with a ruffled edge. The edges were stabilized with good old elmer's glue (it doesn't sink in and change the appearance of the fabric like fray check does), and the painting was done with water colors. There are five petals in each row, and three rows of them. The central petals are slightly narrower and shorter than the other rows. Each row of petals is gathered onto wire, then sewn down to the hat. They are supported underneath with gathered tulle netting. I really thought my mother was going to hate the finished hat, but she loved it. Yay! :)
